English Dub Review: More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers.: “More Than a Childhood Friend, but Not True Love.”

Overview: When Kamo (Derick Snow) signs Jiro (Ben Balmaceda) up for a summer beach job with him, things become hectic as Shiori (Macy Anne Johnson) and Mei (Meg McClain) have the same idea, along with Akari (Lindsay Sheppard), Sachi (Corey Petit) and Natsumi (Molly Zhang). 

Our Take: Every romcom is allowed one coincidence to get the plot moving. Jiro and Kamo taking the same summer beach job as Shiori and Mei with the two lovebirds seeking to get closer is an enjoyable premise to come out of. Of course, the cherry on top is Akari and her friend’s having the same idea in mind, throwing even more messy feelings into the mix. 

What is not messy, this time at least, is how Akira’s personality is more gradual. There is a more natural transition between her feisty and softer side that is not as abrasive as it has been with how much she wants Jiro to be plain about his feelings, even going as far as to use her body to do so. 

While Jiro gets hot and heavy with his crushes, Kamo continues to be the ever lovable dork in his schemes to meet and charm women, like crafted bracelets. And when I say hot and heavy, I truly mean it in how far the series goes with its sexual jokes that leave me speechless in how brazen they are. Shiori and Jiro icing desserts acts as a blushingly hilarious double entendre in how extreme and blatant they are, with an icing piping bag acting as another kind of piping device. However, their sexy, sloppy mess makes for some momentum in how both of them are more actively pursuing each other, finally choosing to break free from their hesitancy and friendship bubble they have confined themselves to.

With everyone spending a day at the beach, Shiori may have more courage than originally thought in perhaps inviting Jiro to a hotel? More than likely, this is just a funny misdirect for the beach shore or somewhere else, but who knows, right?